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Harajuku style is a playful, colorful mix of girly and punk, popular among Japanese teenagers. This street style originated from a postwar combination of American and Japanese culture and formed mainly around the Harajuku district in Shibuya, Japan. Harajuku style was popularized by American singer Gwen Stefani, but the style is, by nature, unique and always changing. To dress harajuku style, find your favorite sub-style, customize your outfit, and make your hair and makeup just as eye-catching as your clothes.

Steps

Method1

Finding Your Harajuku Style

1

Dress in the Lolita substyle if you love Victorian-inspired fashion. Harajuku can be broken down into several different titles,Lolita is one of the most popular. This style features extremely feminine, doll-like clothing with Victorian elements such as corsets, full-length skirts, headdresses, petticoats, and knee-length stockings.[1]

Lolita’s other substyle, Sweet Lolita, includes lighter colors and childlike fantasy themes. Some key motifs include bows, flowers, and fruit.[3]

2

Dress in the Decora or Kawaii styles if you love bright colors. The Decora substyle incorporates cartoon characters motifs, lots of plastic toys and accessories, clashing patterns, vivid colors, and lots of flamboyance. The Kawaii style is even more childlike and playful, modeled after cute anime characters.[4]

For a classic Decora outfit, wear a neon tutu, a t-shirt with a cartoon character, striped stockings, a stuffed animal backpack, lots of colorful hair clips, and some neon bangle bracelets.[5]

To dress in the Kawaii style, you could wear a pastel babydoll dress, pastel tights, a soft cardigan, platform heels, a cute purse, and a bow in your hair.

3

Dress in the Visual Kei style for a more punk-rock look. Visual Kei is an androgynous look, inspired by the glam rock, goth, and punk movements. Some key elements are dark makeup, extreme hairstyles, and loose black clothing.

Dress in the Ganguro style for an extreme California girl look. This style is characterized by deep fake tans and platinum hair as well as white highlighter and face jewels. Ganguro clothing is a mix of beach wear and Valley Girl style, with lots of bold floral prints, leis, tank tops, and bright colors.[6]

Create your own Harajuku style. Harajuku style is anything that protests mainstream fashion, so the possibilities are endless. If you aren’t drawn to any of the popular substyles, make up your own by wearing whatever you want.

You could create an outfit by drawing elements that you like from the other substyles, such as the pastel colors from Kawaii style, a Sweet Lolita corset, a spiky Visual Kei hairstyle, and the floral accessories from Ganguro style.

Method2

Creating an Outfit

1

Layer clothes to achieve a true Harajuku look. Layering is a hallmark of Harajuku style and allows you to mix and match a wide variety of styles.

Try layering tank tops and shirts, sweaters with vests and jackets, or dresses with leggings.

Ruffled dresses are also a popular way to give the illusion of a layered look.

2

Combine styles and trends. Harajuku style often mixes other popular fashion trends such as punk, goth, school uniform, and designer clothing.[7]

Try pairing some athletic tights with a white school uniform-style collared shirt to get the mixed style effect.

Harajuku also focuses on a clash between traditional Japanese attire, such as kimonos and geta sandals, and Western clothing. Try incorporating elements of both, such as a classic kimono with American-style patches or pins.

3

Experiment with color. Try mixing clashing colors, dressing in all neon, or layering shades of the same color. You could also choose to go colorless and wear all black.

You could wear a Decora-inspired mix of bright, clashing colors by mixing colorful patterns and neon statement pieces.

For a monochromatic Sweet Lolita look, you could wear a ruffled dress, stockings, and a cardigan all in shades of soft pink.

4

Wear some eye-catching shoes to go with your outfit. Harajuku-style shoes can range from platform heels to sneakers to heels. Shoes can be used to express as much personality as your outfit. Try some sneakers with a thick platform, delicate Mary Jane-style heels with little bows, or some spiked black boots.

5

Customize your clothing. Embroider your own designs, cut your own jagged hemlines, add ribbons and jewels, and even make your own clothes. Customizing will allow you to express your individuality and add even more detail to your outfit.

Buy secondhand clothing to experiment with customization. This will make your clothes even more one-of-a-kind and lower the cost of your project.

Method3

Accessorizing Your Outfit

1

Choose loud and colorful accessories. Harajuku accessories should stand out in a crowd. Try to find bright, unique pieces such as a colorful hat, a neon necklace, or a furry purse that looks like your favorite cartoon character.

Your accessories don't have to match your outfit--clashing colors and patterns are acceptable and even encouraged in the Harajuku style.

2

Accessorize your outfit from head to toe. Objects that create sound, such as bells or metal jewelry, are sometimes used to add an extra dimension to the outfit. This is especially popular in the Decora style. Wear lots of chains, metal bangle bracelets, or clip some bells in your hair to create sound when you walk.

Pile on the accessories. In the Harajuku style, excess is key so the more accessories, the better! Add all kinds of jewelry, hair accessories, purses, hats, and headdresses to make your outfit even louder and more unique.

3

Draw inspiration from your substyle. Look to the roots of your favorite Harajuku substyle for accessory inspiration. You could explore the time period or geographic location associated with your substyle to find accessories.

For example, you could draw from the Victorian period and the Lolita style by accessorizing with headdresses, parasols, and bows.[8]

Method4

Doing Hair and Makeup

1

Dye your hair different colors. In Harajuku style, any color goes! Dye your hair in a vivid, eye-catching color like pink, blue, or orange. You could also try an ombré mix of several colors for even more creative flair.

2

Be creative with your hairstyle. Harajuku’s spirit of individuality carries through to hairstyles as well. To achieve the look you want, you could also add hair extensions or spray-dye your hair with temporary colors.

Do your hair in an attention-grabbing style, such as a spiky cut or a pair of high side buns.

For a more Kawaii style, wear some cute pigtails or full bangs.

3

Do dramatic, theatrical makeup. Whether cutesy or dark, your makeup should be as eye-catching as your outfit. Your makeup may differ based on your favorite substyle, but you should generally avoid natural makeup and aim for a more theatrical look.

Community Q&A

Most people in Harajuku fashion alter or make all their clothes. For example, style icon Haruka Kurebayashi gets her clothes from vintage and thrift shops before altering them and giving them her own look.

I get picked on at school as it is, but the harajuku style is something I have always wanted to try. Should I still give it a try?

Community Answer

Yes! Dressing up in general is not for others; it's always for yourself. If dressing in a harajuku style is what makes you feel good, then do it. Don't listen to other peoples' opinions, because that's all they are: opinions. Besides, people are always going to stare. You might as well give them something pretty and colorful to look at, right?

Of course! There's a lot of types of harajuku, there are the rainbow ones, the childish ones, and there's also some gothic/dark ones. Also, remember that harajuku style is about being yourself and dressing however you want!

There's something called a "brolita" which is basically a man wearing lolita. Boy style lolita ("kodona" or "ouji") could also work for you. You can wear cute things, just expect a few confused stares since you're not female.

Article Info

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This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 8 references. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.

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Co-Authored By:

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Co-authors: 71

Updated: March 29, 2019

Views: 1,017,091

81% of readers found this article helpful.

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81% of people told us that this article helped them.

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Michelle Ambler

Jan 26, 2018

"I realize I already dress Harajuku naturally. Just loving a cute or crazy theme and going with it full on for that outfit. I don't follow fashion, I buy secondhand and customize. People always ask me for style advice!"..." more

A

Anonymous

Sep 20, 2016

"Thank you for helping me understand what Harajuku girls are. This article was a sweet and simple overview. Kawaii!"

JW

Joanne Witbooi

Nov 25, 2017

"I found it very interesting. I need to read more about this before I try it. "